FinBase Photo-Identification Database System

Summary

Marine mammals can often be identified using natural or acquired markings such as blemishes, fin nicks and notches, and scars. A number of research programs rely on natural and acquired markings visible in digital images obtained during photo-identification surveys to distinguish and catalog individuals. FinBase is a customized Microsoft Access database system that stores and manages textual and numerical data from photo-identification surveys, and performs many of the tasks associated with image management and analysis. Data entry and display forms allow users to efficiently interact with their data and images. FinBase maintains a catalog in which individuals can possess multiple attributes (e.g., chopped dorsal fin, apex dorsal fin notch, lower dorsal fin notch, peduncle scar/notch, etc.), any combination of which can be selected to sort the catalog. This expedites the matching process by allowing analysts to sort the entire catalog based on the similarity of each existing catalog individuals' attributes to those of newly sighted individuals. FinBase was developed by NOAA to store and manage data for research being conducted by NOAA's National Ocean Service and Fisheries field offices. The prototype was presented at a Digital Photography Workshop at the Society of Marine Mammalogy’s 15th Biennial Conference. Due to the interest generated, efforts were initiated towards making FinBase customizable and available to the public. A number of research programs have since adopted the system for a variety of species. While FinBase has been made available to the public, it is not an official NOAA Fisheries product (see Disclaimer and Contact Information for details).

Database System

The FinBase database system consists of a collection of subdirectories (associated with image and file storage) and front- and back-end Microsoft Access databases. The back-end database (FinBase.mdb) contains the data tables while the front-end database (FinBase_FE.mdb) contains the forms that function as the primary interface for the user. The front-end database has been customized using Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to facilitate data entry, storage, and analysis. The front-end database also utilizes a third-party ActiveX control to embed image analysis functionality, helping to automate many of the tasks associated with the photo analysis process and image file management.

The FinBase Database System Interface

FinBase Mapping Tools

An important facet of population dynamics, movement, behavior, and health research involves examining spatial relationships between individuals and the environment. Visualization of photo-identification data can play a vital role in the identification and communication of complex spatial relationships. To facilitate the visualization of data stored in FinBase, a companion ArcGIS Toolbox was also developed by NOAA. The toolbox (FinBase Mapping Tools) contains tools that allow users with little to no background in GIS or relational databases to query FinBase from within ArcMap using simple, point-and-click controls and display the results spatially. Queries can be based on a variety of the collected and stored parameters, including:

• Survey Number
• Sighting Number
• Survey Area
• Survey Type (e.g. photo-identification, biopsy, radio-tracking, etc.)
• Date
• CatalogID
• Location
• Conditions (e.g. depth, salinity, tide, etc.)
• Group Size
• Behaviors (e.g. feed, social, fast travel, etc.)
• Observations (e.g. presence of Xenobalanus sp., group cohesiveness, shrimp boat associations, etc.)
• Attributes (e.g., chopped dorsal fin, apex dorsal fin notch, lower dorsal fin notch, peduncle scar/notch, etc.)

System Requirements

The following system requirements are derived from known implementations of FinBase. Successful implementations may be possible using versions/ combinations of operating systems and Microsoft Access not listed below. Please note that the third-party ActiveX image control used by FinBase is not compatible with 64-bit versions of Microsoft Office. When installing Microsoft Office, select the option to install the 32-bit version.

• Operating System

  • Windows XP

  • Windows Vista

  • Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit)

  • Windows 10 (32-bit and 64-bit)

• Microsoft Access

  • Microsoft Access 2003

  • Microsoft Access 2007

  • Microsoft Access 2010 (32-bit only)

  • Microsoft Access 2013 (32-bit only)

  • Microsoft Access 2016 (32-bit only)

An ArcGIS license and additional installation steps are required to use the FinBase Mapping Tools toolbox. For installation assistance, please contact Jeff Adams at Jeff.Adams@noaa.gov.

Installation

During installation, a FinBase directory (which includes the subdirectories and front- and back-end Microsoft Access databases) will be created at the location of your choosing and the third-party ActiveX image control used by FinBase will be installed and registered (you will need administrative privileges). For performance reasons, it is recommended that you locate the FinBase directory as close to the root of the drive (e.g. C:\Data) or server as possible, as opposed to nesting the FinBase directory deep inside a series of folders. Additionally, FinBase operates more quickly on a local hard drive than it does over a server. However, if multiple individuals will be accessing the database, installing FinBase on a server is recommended. When installed on a server, each user can copy the front-end database onto their local machine and access the database at the same time.

Downloads

• Install the FinBase database system  (updated 8/19/2016).

• This includes creating the FinBase directory (which includes the subdirectories and front- and back-end Microsoft Access databases) and installing/ registering the Active X image control used by FinBase (you will need administrative privileges). Unless you are creating an additional catalog, a complete installation should only be performed once.

  • FinBase Database System [exe]

• Install and register the Active X image control (you will need administrative privileges).

• Installation and registration of the Active X image control is required on each machine running FinBase (this executable file can also be found in the FinBase\InstallFiles subdirectory of your FinBase directory):

  • FinBase Active X Image Control [exe]

• Front-end database (updated 8/19/2016).

• Instructions on how to swap out your old front-end are also included:

  • FinBase_FE [zip]

• Queries and Reports database (updated 8/19/2016):

  • FinBase_Queries_Reports [zip]

• FinBase Mapping Tools (updated 8/19/2016):

  • FinBaseMappingTools [zip]

Disclaimer and Contact Information

FinBase is not an official NOAA Fisheries product and NOAA Fisheries does not provide technical support for the installation and operation of FinBase. Please direct any questions regarding the FinBase database system to Jeff Adams at Jeff.Adams@noaa.gov. All correspondence regarding FinBase will be addressed as time and resources allow.